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Creative Custom Card Boxes: An Innovative New Wedding Industry Product!

Creative Custom Card Boxes is a rapidly growing web-based company that provides brides across the nation with secure, handmade, eco-friendly custom card boxes designed according to their exact specifications.

When planning her own wedding, Marni Gold was searching for a unique and secure way to store gifts and cards at her reception. Frustrated with the gaudy, tacky or just plain expensive options she was repeatedly coming across, she finally created her own custom card box that was simple, elegant, and understated while still corresponding with her theme. Out of this project, Creative Custom Card boxes was born!

Starting at just $40, Creative Custom Card boxes are as affordable as they are beautiful. Each customer can browse a wide variety of designs online before specifying the exact colors, number of tiers, and types of embellishments that will make her own cardbox one-of-a-kind. A true mother-daughter team, Marni and her mom Linda work closely with their clients to bring their exact visions to life.

While there are few limits to how the card boxes can be decorated, Creative Custom Card Boxes has on hand a consistent stock of crystals, pearls, and variations of I DO and WE DO letters. For more information, visit their web site or blog. You can also follow them on Twitter.

We welcome Creative Custom Card Boxes as one of our blog advertisers!

Tips when purchasing your wedding gown

Your wedding is nine months away and you decide to start searching for your perfect gown. You walk into a bridal store and start talking to one of the salespeople. They ask you for your wedding date and you tell them. They immediately tell you that you will need nine months in order to special order your wedding gown. Is this true? In most cases, this is not true. The bridal shop is telling you that just so you will panic and place your order that day. This also helps them in stopping you from looking at other bridal shops. Don’t ever be bullied into buying your wedding dress on any given day. You might have found the dress of your dreams but give yourself a little time to think about it. You are making a big purchase for a special day and you need to make sure that this is the dress. Once you buy your gown that is it. Most shops do not allow returns or money back especially on special orders. Once you put money down on a special order, the dress is yours.

What to know

The majority of manufacturers require 8-12 weeks for a special order unless you are making drastic changes to a dress.

Most manufacturers will allow you to lengthen a train, shorten a train, take off some beads, or add beads. If there is something you would love to add/change to your dress just ask the salesperson. Not all manufacturers allow this but some do, so ask. If a bridal shop gives you a delivery date of 6 months or more then I would be very careful.

You have decided on your perfect wedding dress and now it is time to order it. First of all I would pay one one-half of the deposit. If the shop asks for more than that then walk out. You do not want to put more then half down on something you do not yet have in your hands. Also if the wedding is cancelled, you have lost only one-half the cost of the dress because remember deposits on special order dresses are not refundable. Also, I suggest you put your deposit down with a credit card. This way if anything happens like the store closes down or never places your order then you have a way of getting your deposit back. After you place your order and put your half deposit down, make sure you get a receipt. Also make sure that they write down the style number, color, and size down on your copy as well as the store’s copy. This way you have proof of what was supposed to be ordered.

After you place your order, call the store after a few days and get an estimated delivery date. This way you can be sure they ordered it. These are estimated dates not actual dates. No one can give you an actual date. This is the real world and things do happen. Make sure you right this date down on your receipt along with the day and person you spoke with.

Here’s a trick … if you have plenty of time provide a date that is one month before your wedding date. This will help to reassure you that the dress will come in plenty of time before your wedding. If your wedding date is 4 months or less away, then you cannot do this because you will incur rush charges.

How to make sure your dress is new

You’ve found your perfect dress and although the store has the exact size and color in stock you decide you want to order your dress new from the manufacturer instead of the store’s sample. You make your down payment, the dress is ordered and you have an estimated delivery date. The bridal shop calls you to tell you your dress has arrived and you go in to try it on. Before you even try it on you notice makeup stains inside the bodice of your dress and the underskirt looks as though it has been dragged across a dirty floor. Guess what? It’s a sure bet that your dress was never ordered and they are passing off the floor sample as a new dress. At this point you should point out the problems to the shop. Refuse to take the dress and demand they order you a new dress. Never take the dress out of the store and expect to come back later to show them the problems. Once you take a dress out of the store, the dress is yours no matter what.

If your dress came in from the manufacturer stained or dirty you should have no problem requesting a new one. If, in fact, the store never ordered you a new dress and are trying to pass the floor sample on to you, you have every right to demand your money back or if it would satisfy you, to have the store clean it at their expense. Always make sure you go into the store as soon as you can when your special order dress comes in. This includes bridesmaids’ dresses as well. If you go in immediately then you can still get the manufacturer to replace the dress if anything is wrong. Usually most manufacturers give the shop one to two weeks to notify them if something is wrong. After the certain time frame there is nothing you or the bridal shop can do to request a new dress if something is wrong.

So, if possible, plan you wedding 8-12 months in advance so you have plenty of time to select and order the dress of your dreams.

Need advice or guidance, contact one of our StrictlyWeddings.com partners. Gown designed by Elizabeth Fillmore.

Best Wedding Entrance Ever

I know that we’re dropping the boat and haven’t shared anything new and trendy, but our focus has been on Chicago. That doesn’t mean that we can’t share something to laugh over (and we needed a laugh on Friday). We hope you’ll get a kick out of it as much as we did.

It’s titled the “Best Wedding Entrance Ever” and it’s very close to just that!

Getting Ready for Chicago

We’ve not forgotten our faithful blog followers! We’re busy getting StrictlyWeddings.com Chicago ready for launch. Look for a new posting later this week.

Thanks…

Today Show Throws a Wedding

We’re suckers for a romantic story and beautiful weddings, which is why we’ve been watching the Today Show to follow the Today Show Throws a Weddings.

For those who have been following “Leigh and Nick” as the  winning couple, here are two beautiful photographs. Pictured below, Leigh and Nick share a moment at the Plaza Grand Ballroom, NYC where they enjoyed a lavish reception featuring the Grand Ballroom’s signature 100-Mile Menu. At the end of the news release below is a link to view the Today Show’s slide show.

Photos: Chris Eastland

New York – July 15, 2009: This morning, Leigh and Nick, the former Olympic hopefuls who captured the hearts of viewers during the 10th annual TODAY Throws a Wedding, celebrated their nuptials with a lavish reception broadcast live from the legendary Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel. The Plaza’s Grand Ballroom has hosted dream weddings for over a century, and, following its magnificent restoration, it is once again the quintessential destination for special celebrations.

The lucky couple’s once-in-a-lifetime wedding reception was attended by 175 guests, who enjoyed a custom 100 Mile Menu created by Executive Chef Chris Harkness with dishes sourced within 100 mile of the Grand Ballroom including Katchkie Farm Tomato Terrine, Local Roasted Monkfish over Sweet Pea Risotto, Herb Seared Filet of Beef with Tender Gnocchi, Baby Mushrooms, Sautéed Spinach, and Cabernet Demi Glaze and for dessert Ricotta Tort with Toasted Almonds and Blueberries.

In keeping with the local theme, a special 100 Mile Cocktail, The Pomona, was created to toast the couple. Named after the goddess of abundance (whose statue adorns the fountain outside the Plaza’s main entrance), the Pomona is made from American Fruits Black Currant Cordial, Lieb Family Cellars Blanc de Blancs (a Long Island sparkling wine), and local honey.

According to Liz Neumark, CEO of CPS Events at the Plaza, the 100 Mile Menu and cocktail are inspired by the demand among today’s brides for more seasonal, farm-to-table foods at their weddings.

“This new culinary movement marries seasonal fare with elegant style,” adds Neumark. “With fresh, organic ingredients served within 36 hours of their harvest, it is the synthesis of robust flavor and modern dining.”

Today Show Slide Show | Today Show Story

Carolina Herrera Gowns for 2010

We love being able to provide sneak peeks for our partners! Take a look at some of the gorgeous new gowns sent to us from the Carolina Herrera Bridal Collection. Click on the image for a larger view.

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The Bachelorette Bash

Why should guys be the only ones entitled to a night of pre-wedding bonding? Here are some beyond-the-male-stripper ideas for your bachelorette blast.

• Passion Party
  Invite a saleswoman to present items for your love life at your house. Bond with your friends while you learn about and pass around all sorts of unmentionables (such as lingerie, body lotions, massage oils, and chocolate body paint, for starters). Search for Passion Parties in your area and see what comes up.

• Ultimate Grazing
  On your bachelorette night, tempt your taste buds at a different restaurant for each part of the meal. Cruise from course to course in a limousine or stroll through the neighborhood. Start off at your preferred pub for cocktails, then wander from appetizers to desserts at all your favorite establishments.

• Spa-da!
  How about some serious self-indulgence? Book some spa time, and relax and revel in massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures.  You’ll come out ready for your close-up.

• Boys and Girls Together
  Buck tradition and have the best of both worlds: your friends and fiancé. You and your loved one can go out for dinner separately with your same-gender friends and then join up with the whole gang for drinks and dessert afterward.

• Pillow Talk
  So you’re not a teenager anymore. You can still unroll the sleeping bags and open a bottle of wine. It’s time for girls’ night in. Turn up the music and dig into the junk food, because tonight is the night for your old favorites. Play Truth or Dare, Twister, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit.

• Pole Dancing Lessons
  Here’s a fun way to “get your sexy on” … set up a pole dancing lesson or party. Some instructors can even teach you how to give a lap dance or strip tease. These are not strippers! Many who teach are dancers and fitness instructors. Wouldn’t it be fun to surprise your husband on your honeymoon with a special dance! If nothing else, it’s a lot of fun (a whole lot of laughs) and more of a workout than you realize.

It’s all about the cake

Well, at least for some of us who have a sweet tooth!

If you are still searching for your bakery, visit the husband and wife team of Jace and Carrie Crockett at Le Gateau Cakery, who have been an integral part of the best weddings in Texas for over 10 years. They have a unique talent of combining sumptuous flavors with expertly crafted classic and contemporary designs to offer the ultimate experience in wedding cake artistry and taste. If you can imagine it, Jace and Carrie can make it a reality. What truly sets them apart is their superior level of service that welcomes you to be a part of the family.

Connecting with “The Dad”

Getting your dad to like your fiancé (and vice versa) may be a challenging task. The two most important men in your life may seemingly have nothing in common. Your fiancé may be a football fanatic who likes to hang with his “buds,” whereas your father may prefer computers or watching the History channel. That said, you want them to get along to the point that family gatherings are comfortable. What are a few ways to gently push their bonding in the right direction?

Easing the Tension

The nature of the relationship between a man and his father-in-law can be tense, at first. Your father has been protective of you since you were born and marrying you off is no different. Once you’ve signaled that you’ve found the right guy, the ice between your father and your fiancé may only need some melting. Your goal is simply to give your fiancé and your father a chance to get to know each other and find commonalities on their own.

First and foremost – don’t try to force the issue. Relations between the two need not be as strong as between your husband and his best friends. There’s nothing wrong with them being acquaintances rather than great buddies. Educate each one separately on commonalities they have so that each will have a place to start a conversation. Just a few topics can grow into others undiscovered.

Use your siblings

If you’ve got brothers, they may be holding out judgement as well. Yet more likely they are close enough in age that there are shared experiences (college, sports, computer games) that can help smooth those waters. If they’re all local, plan something at your place or at a local pub. Hopefully, they’ll like your guy, which will be a big step in getting dad on board. Or you may even suggest to your fiancé he take the initiative and organize an afternoon at the driving range together (or baseball game, etc.). If all goes well, include your dad in the next invitation. It’s a way for the group of them to bond without having to be overt about it.

Spending time together

Given that the tie in the relationship between your dad and your fiancé is you, you can be the social link between them. Invite them both out for lunch, with you in tow. Invite your mom and dad to a double date at a movie. There’s no speaking required between them during the movie itself, and yet they are spending time together. Not just that, both parents will feel better that you’re not excluding them in your future life and that you still want to spend time with them.

The goal is that your fiance and dad have more to talk about then just the weather.

Photo from the movie “Father of the Bride.”

Linen Ideas for Wedding Reception

Trolling around the Internet this weekend, trying to stay cool (from our scorching Texas heat), I found Wildflower Linens. Based out of California, they offer some wonderful ideas using color and texture. To view more bridal photos, go to the web site and select “galleries/bridal.” If there’s something there you like, don’t hesitate to share with your own wedding planner or event rental company.

Click on any of the images below to view a larger image.

Click here to learn about StrictlyWeddings.com Event Rental Partners.